Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Wesley Henry
IN A driving finish, the vastly improved American 3-y-o filly EXPLOSIVE PEAK survived a late run from the 5-2 favourite EXCLUSIVE RUNNER to win the $1 million CTL Imported Stakes over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Trained by Peter McMaster for his wife, Elaine (Miss Suckie), EXPLOSIVE PEAK, running at odds of 7-2 with former champion Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry again in the saddle, held on by a head from EXCLUSIVE RUNNER under veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid to record her fourth consecutive win.
The race was not without mishap, as the 83-1 outsider DEARDREAMER decked jockey Larris Allen at the start. And if that wasn't enough, ZICKWARTY (12-1), who scored a 65-1 upset on the previous Saturday, dislodged his rider Ameth Robles approaching the 600-metre marker in the field of 12 imported horses.
It was the rank outsider ZIP UP (99-1) who led early, but as they sorted themselves out he was chased by EXPLOSIVE PEAK on the outside, closely followed by ZICKWARTY, SEATTLE'S GIRL. PRECOCIOUS MISS D and SWEET SOUTHERN GAL.
Henry pushed EXPLOSIVE PEAK into the lead at the halfway stage, but had to ride a cautious race to avoid the loose horse (Deardreamer) running in front of him.
LOOSE HORSE
Despite this, he turned for home a length ahead of SEATTLE'S GIRL under champion jockey Trevor Simpson on the inside. With Henry still watching the loose horse, who looked at one stage that he would run down off a true line approaching the distance, the jockey kept his composure to win narrowly from the Wayne DaCosta-trained EXCLUSIVE RUNNER, who came flying at the finish under his light impost.
A relieved Henry said the loose horse almost cost him the race. In third place, a farther 1 1/2 lengths away, was 17-1 chance SPANISH SECRETS (closing), while SEATTLE'S GIRL faded into fourth.
McMaster said he was always confident of winning as the filly had improved by leaps and bounds.
"She galloped six furlongs in 1:12.1 and was jumping out of her skin with fitness," McMaster said.
"We had problems with her earlier in the season. She had a tendency to drift out badly in the straight but I was able to correct this. After she won the RJR Classic on July 30, I put her down and programmed her specifically for this million-dollar race. She has improved physically and the sky's now the limit for her," he added.
REGGAE TROPHY
Bred in Florida by Franklin Farms, EXPLOSIVE PEAK is a chestnut filly by Pyramid Peak out of the Explosive Red mare Janice. She was purchased by McMaster at the Ocala Sales in Florida.
Earlier in the afternoon, A KING IS BORN, with customary rider Winston Griffiths in the saddle, won the $775,000 Reggae Trophy (graded stakes) over the straight five course, this for the second consecutive year under top weight of 59kg.
Bred by Ken Gooden, the illustrious five-year-old horse by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native is trained by current champion Philip Feanny for popular owner Howard Hamilton (Hamark Farms) who chalked up a second winner on the 11-race programme in the debutant DEVIL WOMAN (11-1) for trainer Dwight Chen in the round five Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup for native bred maiden two-year-old fillies.
DEVIL WOMAN, who staved off a late run from the howling favourite SWING BY, completed a double for Simpson on the card.
Henry also rode two winners in EXPLOSIVE PEAK and ABOUNDING GRACE at 16-1 for trainer DaCosta, while Chen also posted two winners in NEUTRALIZER and DEVIL WOMAN, both under Simpson. The five-time champion has now ridden 67 winners, eight clear of closest rival Brian Harding who rode one winner in 3-2 favourite AD INFINITUM.
